Doctoral Student in Automatic Control with focus on Robotics

Description of workplace

Automatic Control is an exciting and broad subject, covering both advanced mathematics and
hands-on engineering. Historically, it has been instrumental in many areas, from the early
development of telecommunications to the space race. Today, driven by the need to engineer
ever larger systems, Automatic Control is more relevant than ever.
The department of Automatic control has a stimulating and international environment with
PhD students, postdocs, and teachers coming from all corners of the world. Research and
teaching are conducted in an open and progressive atmosphere with collaborations both
within academia and with industry, nationally as well as internationally. A PhD degree from
the Department of Automatic control gives you the perfect base for an exciting career, be it in
academia or industry.

Lund University and the Department of Automatic Control welcome applicants with diverse backgrounds and experiences. We regard equality and diversity as a strength and an asset. For more information on research and PhD studies in Automatic Control, please look at our videos:
Research | Department of Automatic Control (lth.se)

Project and subject description

We are hiring a doctoral student within a project on Robotic Manipulation with Extrinsic Dexterity. This PhD project is dedicated to enhancing autonomous robots' ability to interact with their environment and manipulate objects, despite the limited dexterity of their grippers, through refined hand-arm coordination and external contacts (extrinsic dexterity). It focuses on developing adaptive robot motion/force control strategies for object manipulation in case of frictional contacts,  capable of learning from and adjusting to environmental uncertainties, utilizing nonlinear control and machine learning techniques.

The PhD student project is funded by Wallenberg AI, Autonomous Systems and Software
Program (WASP).
Wallenberg AI, Autonomous Systems and Software Program (WASP) is Sweden’s largest individual research program ever, a major national initiative for strategically motivated basic research, education and faculty recruitment. The program addresses research on artificial intelligence and autonomous systems acting in collaboration with humans, adapting to their
environment through sensors, information and knowledge, and forming intelligent systems-of-systems. The vision of WASP is excellent research and competence in artificial intelligence, autonomous systems and software for the benefit of Swedish industry.
Read more: wasp-sweden.org

The graduate school within WASP is dedicated to provide the skills needed to analyze, develop, and contribute to the interdisciplinary area of artificial intelligence, autonomous systems and software. Through an ambitious program with research visits, partner universities, and visiting lecturers, the graduate school actively supports forming a strong multi-disciplinary and international professional network between PhD-students, researchers
and industry. Read more: wasp-sweden.org/graduate-school

Work duties

The PhD position consists of three main aspects:
- research project, including trips to conferences, seminars etc.,
- postgraduate courses, locally and internationally given (90 ECTS credits), and
- teaching (no more than 20%), including lab supervision and exam responsibilities.
This part may also include departmental services, such as working with equality and
diversity, arranging events etc.

Admission requirements

A person meets the general admission requirements for third-cycle courses and study
programmes if the applicant:
- has been awarded a second-cycle qualification, or
- has satisfied the requirements for courses comprising at least 240 credits of which at
least 60 credits were awarded in the second cycle, or
- has acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way in Sweden or
abroad.

A person meets the specific admission requirements for third cycle studies in Automatic
control if the applicant has:
- knowledge corresponding to course FRT010 Automatic Control, Basic Course and a second cycle specialisation of relevance to the subject, or
- an MSc in engineering or corresponding qualification

Additional requirements
- Very good oral and written proficiency in English.
- Good language analytical ability.
- Curiosity about research and teaching in general, and motivation for the particular
research project.
- Creativity with good ability for cooperation and networking.

Assessment criteria

Selection for third-cycle studies is based on the student’s potential to profit from such studies. The assessment of potential is made primarily on the basis of academic results from the first and second cycle. Special attention is paid to the following:
1. Knowledge and skills relevant to the thesis project and the subject of study.
2. An assessment of ability to work independently and to formulate and tackle research
problems.
3. Written and oral communication skills.
4. Other experience relevant to the third-cycle studies, e.g. professional experience.

We offer

Lund University is a public authority which means that employees get particular benefits, generous annual leave and an advantageous occupational pension scheme. Read more on the University website about being a Lund University employee
Work at Lund University.

Terms of employment

Only those admitted to third cycle studies may be appointed to a doctoral studentship. Third cycle studies at LTH consist of full-time studies for 4 years. A doctoral studentship is a fixed-term employment of a maximum of 5 years (including 20% departmental duties). Doctoral studentships are regulated in the Higher Education Ordinance (1993:100), chapter 5, 1-7 §§.
We intend to offer employment to 1 PhD student. A doctoral student will receive a competitive monthly salary of 3
4 300 SEK with yearly raise.

Those applicants who will be called for interview, might be asked to perform a small test to demonstrate basic competence.

Instructions on how to apply

Applications shall be written in English and include a cover letter stating the reasons why you are interested in the position and in what way the research project corresponds to your interests and educational background. The application must also contain a CV, degree certificate or equivalent, and other documents you wish to be considered (grade transcripts, contact information for your references, letters of recommendation, etc.).

Welcome to apply!